With A Cuspide Corona’s surge into action at the dire, desperate sound of a woman’s choked-off, sobbing cry of pain, and the grate and clatter of rusted metal and chain, most others treading upon the sloping, cobblestone street move with near-panic in almost any other direction. The gloom and lingering mist of the shadowed alley swallows the adventurers as they ready for conflict, yet their advance also reveals that which was hidden from sight – a rusted iron sewer gate, set within the steep embankment under one of the stone buildings…
The old iron sewer gate bars access to a dark underground tunnel, just large enough for a human to travel. The lock built into the gate itself is rusted into uselessness, but a far newer iron chain and lock hold the thick flaking bars of the gate closed. Several of the company draw just close enough to the sewer gate to hear the low sounds of angered voices, and the metallic rasp of armored movement beyond in the darkness. Casta’s enhanced vision, from her position, perceives the tunnel reaches around 25’ deep into the slope, with dark openings where it ends, perhaps, to the left and right, and the faint, guttering light of an open flame somewhere down the latter.
The Paladin issues her challenge as she and A Cuspide Corona take all of this in, and seconds of silence pass…until a menacing, precise human voice lets forth a dry chuckle…and responds…
“Does he? Hmm; no one you can protect here, but perhaps "Helm" can come play with a few of his old friends some time…”
OOC: Good Evening, Adventurers, I hope this finds you well. I'm somewhat recovered from the last crushing couple of work days, and hope you find the above recap and new developments useful.
OOC: The procedural question for the company previously regarding skills use, PMs, etc, is this: would you as a group prefer that I provide the results of your perceptions and other skill checks in the public gameplay, as I did in the above re-cap narrative, or would you prefer that I use Private Messages to convey that information, as I did in the turn? Different groups can have very different preferences here, as some like to see it for their enjoyment, even if they can't (yet) use it for their own character, while others want to control the spread of that information themselves as a player. Very interested in your net response, my friends!
OOC: I don't mind the information being made public, as I will likely divulge everything to the group regardless. If I want something kept secret, I'll let you know in the roll. I find it sometimes difficult to work in information I want to tell others without breaking the action or flow, especially when initiative is involved.
Feldinor sees the object of his passive search and notices the direction of the challenge from the deep. And given that there is an obstacle between his party and their prey, Feldinor understands the task at hand. He moves towards the locked gate along the side of the building (5' up then 10' right). As he moves, he draws his familiar tool for easily opening any lock put before the Rogue. "I will handle this. Be prepared to pursue." [ooc]I'm hoping that drawing a weapon also means drawing a tool since my thieves tools are my weapon of choice ;) [/ooc] And why are they called thieves tools anyway? I don't steal anything and I certainly have not gained enough experience to know for sure what path my profession will take me. Perhaps they should be called Arcane Trickers tools? I shall suggest that to my supplier the next time I'm gathering supplies.
[ooc]I believe the rules are a DC 15 Dex check for opening locks[/ooc]
Dexterity check to open lock 16
[ooc]SUCCESS! As long as I guessed correctly. After further reading of the rules, I think I actually get double my proficiency bonus since I took Thieves tools. So +2 more to the die roll? [/ooc]
[ooc]I don't mind having it shared with the group to help speed up play. If I want to keep anything to myself, I will either PM you beforehand or make it obvious in my character post[/ooc]
OOC: Thanks to Yokai and Feldinor on their procedural question responses - that's two thus far in favor of the public display of skill checks, with the exception of those check results that are specifically coordinated as such. Look forward to the others' thoughts.
OOC: Feldinor, your rules interpretation looks right on target, I think - drawing your tools as an object while moving; Dex check with +2 for having tools proficiency to pick the lock; and a DC 15 check to succeed for this lock - nicely done! To your last OOC question: In addition to having proficiency with the thieves tools, you also chose them for your Expertise class feature, which lets you double your proficiency bonus, resulting in your total check for using the tools to become 1d20 + 7, or a total of 18 on your previous roll.
OOC: Sir, Thank you for this interesting question. It seems that the core of the question is one of flavor in execution. Do we desire to experiment with the inherent limitation options of this medium or more closely emulate table banter? In a written novel, the author has full information control and can lay out tension information dissemination to maximize tension and reveal potential. That style option is preserved in this medium. In a table-top version, conversely, the storytelling is a little more free flow, with information dissemination and reveal to the players being influenced strongly by individual character questions and choices.
In short, do we want this to read more like a book or more like a table-top?
After considering the two options, I'm a larger fan of the later. I can understand the former format, and if I were engaged in multiple table-top games, I would enjoy exploring how this medium can have a different flavor by highlighting the contrasts. As COVID is greatly limiting the table-feel in this season, however, I find my heart leaning more toward the table-reveal format where table talk is acceptable, within limits.
At a second level of consideration, partial information dissemination per action can: 1) In game - emulate tactical call outs, keeping each action important among each character. (e.g. Contact left, Firbolgs!) 2) Meta - Keep each character's actions interesting to each player as there is a chance the player can learn something new no matter who acts in that day while the round takes place over many days. (e.g. Oooohh Firbolgs? What are they doing here? They should be friendly? The BBEG has been deceiving many groups hereabouts. Are they going to attack? I can't wait to see what this means! How much longer until my turn??)
In summary: Keep the data drip going. Keeps us all interested. Small bites throughout the days is better than a roll-up.
(P.S. Also saves admin time on the GM for the summary write-up)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Feldinor rises to the subtle task at-hand, swiftly moving to the fore and deploying his thieves’ tools in a focused effort to open the iron lock. The rogue overcomes it within seconds, yet even as its clasp unlocks, the shadows move within the flickering gloom at the back of the tunnel, separating from the opening to the south as a dark long-haired form in tattered rags, and a hoarse voice mutters arcane words of magic.
A ghostly, skeletal hand of a bestial or fiendish humanoid manifests before Casta, its wicked claws splayed wide as it rakes at her…
17
19
8
The skeletal claws rake down the Paladin of Helm's right arm, darkening her shining chain mail where they pass through it, wisps of black smoke curling from the necrotic wound beneath.
The ragged form then melds with the shadows to the south once more...
OOC: Good Evening and well-met, adventurers! A great success followed by an ominous revelation of the enemy's fell power, to be sure! Of note, by way of explanation, the rolls above represent a ranged attack roll (against Casta, with half-cover), a body hit location (no statistical impact, just narrative), and a necrotic damage roll (also with added narrative). The graphic does reveal the adversary, while the brown-hued arrows reference the movement before and after the spell. Hope that's useful.
OOC: Casta, thanks for the response! I now tally two votes in favor of public display of results or information, and one vote in favor of partial display. Look forward to more thoughts.
OOC: I don’t mind having most results posted publicly; those results are an important part of the narrative. If I don’t want to share the results with the party (or if the DM thinks those results should remain secret), we can communicate it either in the post or PM.
Murdoch sees that the passage ahead is too tight for every swordsman in the party to engage with their weapons of choice. With some reluctance, he sheathes his rapier (ooc: using his free “interact with an object” action) and draws his heavy crossbow (ooc: using his action). He then steps 10 feet to the north, prepared to fire next round.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Even as the Ranger advances and adapts to the mission, bringing his weapon to bear against the darkness, another form, this one broad in rasping in chain mail and bearing a longbow, separates from the southern shadows as well.
“I see the wench. Get moving with our prize…”
The longbow draws taut, an arrow seeking Casta with its sudden release…
1
13
The Paladin's braced shield deflects the arrow, which streaks between the iron bars and ricochets over her left shoulder. With a guttural, muffled curse, the armored form draws back into the same shadows...
OOC: Well-met, adventurers, and nicely executed on Murdoch's part! Similar to before, absent a successful attack of course, the graphic also reveals the adversary and the movement before and after the attack.
OOC: Thanks for the procedural response as well, Murdoch! I now tally three votes in favor of public display of results or information, and one vote in favor of partial display. Look forward to more thoughts.
Fimrold uses an action to draw his shield and then moves 5ft W, 15ft N, and 5ft diagonally NW, allowing space for frontliners to engage in a future lineup given the narrow space to work with. He winces at the fresh, dark claw marks marring Casta’s usually untouchable visage but will withhold his minor healing for the time being.
OOC: My vote goes to public results, I enjoy seeing the entirety of the narrative, inside thoughts included, and I view the fruits of one’s skill checks the same way. With the current exception of skill checks we are experiencing the game from a third person omniscient point of view, which, as previously mentioned, includes our character’s private thoughts and feelings. It would make the most sense to me, given that we know a character’s mind, that we are not barred from certain aspects of a character’s deduction. Already we are able to see a character think, “Wow Fimrold just did a clever and impactful turn! I think he’s awesome!” why should we only see half of, “Fimrold decides to look around the corner, he sees a not-so-sneaky goblin.” Additionally I support the idea of specification being a common tool, some rolls may have good reason to be kept secret, some rolls may have good reason to have your character call out a result; I believe we are capable of defining the two and avoiding metagaming.
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With A Cuspide Corona’s surge into action at the dire, desperate sound of a woman’s choked-off, sobbing cry of pain, and the grate and clatter of rusted metal and chain, most others treading upon the sloping, cobblestone street move with near-panic in almost any other direction. The gloom and lingering mist of the shadowed alley swallows the adventurers as they ready for conflict, yet their advance also reveals that which was hidden from sight – a rusted iron sewer gate, set within the steep embankment under one of the stone buildings…
The old iron sewer gate bars access to a dark underground tunnel, just large enough for a human to travel. The lock built into the gate itself is rusted into uselessness, but a far newer iron chain and lock hold the thick flaking bars of the gate closed. Several of the company draw just close enough to the sewer gate to hear the low sounds of angered voices, and the metallic rasp of armored movement beyond in the darkness. Casta’s enhanced vision, from her position, perceives the tunnel reaches around 25’ deep into the slope, with dark openings where it ends, perhaps, to the left and right, and the faint, guttering light of an open flame somewhere down the latter.
The Paladin issues her challenge as she and A Cuspide Corona take all of this in, and seconds of silence pass…until a menacing, precise human voice lets forth a dry chuckle…and responds…
“Does he? Hmm; no one you can protect here, but perhaps "Helm" can come play with a few of his old friends some time…”
OOC: Good Evening, Adventurers, I hope this finds you well. I'm somewhat recovered from the last crushing couple of work days, and hope you find the above recap and new developments useful.
OOC: The procedural question for the company previously regarding skills use, PMs, etc, is this: would you as a group prefer that I provide the results of your perceptions and other skill checks in the public gameplay, as I did in the above re-cap narrative, or would you prefer that I use Private Messages to convey that information, as I did in the turn? Different groups can have very different preferences here, as some like to see it for their enjoyment, even if they can't (yet) use it for their own character, while others want to control the spread of that information themselves as a player. Very interested in your net response, my friends!
11
OOC: Feldinor has the initiative!
OOC: I don't mind the information being made public, as I will likely divulge everything to the group regardless. If I want something kept secret, I'll let you know in the roll. I find it sometimes difficult to work in information I want to tell others without breaking the action or flow, especially when initiative is involved.
Feldinor sees the object of his passive search and notices the direction of the challenge from the deep. And given that there is an obstacle between his party and their prey, Feldinor understands the task at hand. He moves towards the locked gate along the side of the building (5' up then 10' right). As he moves, he draws his familiar tool for easily opening any lock put before the Rogue. "I will handle this. Be prepared to pursue." [ooc]I'm hoping that drawing a weapon also means drawing a tool since my thieves tools are my weapon of choice ;) [/ooc] And why are they called thieves tools anyway? I don't steal anything and I certainly have not gained enough experience to know for sure what path my profession will take me. Perhaps they should be called Arcane Trickers tools? I shall suggest that to my supplier the next time I'm gathering supplies.
[ooc]I believe the rules are a DC 15 Dex check for opening locks[/ooc]
Dexterity check to open lock 16
[ooc]SUCCESS! As long as I guessed correctly. After further reading of the rules, I think I actually get double my proficiency bonus since I took Thieves tools. So +2 more to the die roll? [/ooc]
[ooc]I don't mind having it shared with the group to help speed up play. If I want to keep anything to myself, I will either PM you beforehand or make it obvious in my character post[/ooc]
OOC: Thanks to Yokai and Feldinor on their procedural question responses - that's two thus far in favor of the public display of skill checks, with the exception of those check results that are specifically coordinated as such. Look forward to the others' thoughts.
OOC: Feldinor, your rules interpretation looks right on target, I think - drawing your tools as an object while moving; Dex check with +2 for having tools proficiency to pick the lock; and a DC 15 check to succeed for this lock - nicely done! To your last OOC question: In addition to having proficiency with the thieves tools, you also chose them for your Expertise class feature, which lets you double your proficiency bonus, resulting in your total check for using the tools to become 1d20 + 7, or a total of 18 on your previous roll.
OOC: Sir, Thank you for this interesting question. It seems that the core of the question is one of flavor in execution. Do we desire to experiment with the inherent limitation options of this medium or more closely emulate table banter? In a written novel, the author has full information control and can lay out tension information dissemination to maximize tension and reveal potential. That style option is preserved in this medium. In a table-top version, conversely, the storytelling is a little more free flow, with information dissemination and reveal to the players being influenced strongly by individual character questions and choices.
In short, do we want this to read more like a book or more like a table-top?
After considering the two options, I'm a larger fan of the later. I can understand the former format, and if I were engaged in multiple table-top games, I would enjoy exploring how this medium can have a different flavor by highlighting the contrasts. As COVID is greatly limiting the table-feel in this season, however, I find my heart leaning more toward the table-reveal format where table talk is acceptable, within limits.
At a second level of consideration, partial information dissemination per action can:
1) In game - emulate tactical call outs, keeping each action important among each character. (e.g. Contact left, Firbolgs!)
2) Meta - Keep each character's actions interesting to each player as there is a chance the player can learn something new no matter who acts in that day while the round takes place over many days. (e.g. Oooohh Firbolgs? What are they doing here? They should be friendly? The BBEG has been deceiving many groups hereabouts. Are they going to attack? I can't wait to see what this means! How much longer until my turn??)
In summary: Keep the data drip going. Keeps us all interested. Small bites throughout the days is better than a roll-up.
(P.S. Also saves admin time on the GM for the summary write-up)
- Sir Galahad the lesser.
Feldinor rises to the subtle task at-hand, swiftly moving to the fore and deploying his thieves’ tools in a focused effort to open the iron lock. The rogue overcomes it within seconds, yet even as its clasp unlocks, the shadows move within the flickering gloom at the back of the tunnel, separating from the opening to the south as a dark long-haired form in tattered rags, and a hoarse voice mutters arcane words of magic.
A ghostly, skeletal hand of a bestial or fiendish humanoid manifests before Casta, its wicked claws splayed wide as it rakes at her…
17
19
8
The skeletal claws rake down the Paladin of Helm's right arm, darkening her shining chain mail where they pass through it, wisps of black smoke curling from the necrotic wound beneath.
The ragged form then melds with the shadows to the south once more...
OOC: Good Evening and well-met, adventurers! A great success followed by an ominous revelation of the enemy's fell power, to be sure! Of note, by way of explanation, the rolls above represent a ranged attack roll (against Casta, with half-cover), a body hit location (no statistical impact, just narrative), and a necrotic damage roll (also with added narrative). The graphic does reveal the adversary, while the brown-hued arrows reference the movement before and after the spell. Hope that's useful.
OOC: Casta, thanks for the response! I now tally two votes in favor of public display of results or information, and one vote in favor of partial display. Look forward to more thoughts.
OOC: Murdoch has the initiative!
OOC: I don’t mind having most results posted publicly; those results are an important part of the narrative. If I don’t want to share the results with the party (or if the DM thinks those results should remain secret), we can communicate it either in the post or PM.
Murdoch sees that the passage ahead is too tight for every swordsman in the party to engage with their weapons of choice. With some reluctance, he sheathes his rapier (ooc: using his free “interact with an object” action) and draws his heavy crossbow (ooc: using his action). He then steps 10 feet to the north, prepared to fire next round.
Even as the Ranger advances and adapts to the mission, bringing his weapon to bear against the darkness, another form, this one broad in rasping in chain mail and bearing a longbow, separates from the southern shadows as well.
“I see the wench. Get moving with our prize…”
The longbow draws taut, an arrow seeking Casta with its sudden release…
1
13
The Paladin's braced shield deflects the arrow, which streaks between the iron bars and ricochets over her left shoulder. With a guttural, muffled curse, the armored form draws back into the same shadows...
OOC: Well-met, adventurers, and nicely executed on Murdoch's part! Similar to before, absent a successful attack of course, the graphic also reveals the adversary and the movement before and after the attack.
OOC: Thanks for the procedural response as well, Murdoch! I now tally three votes in favor of public display of results or information, and one vote in favor of partial display. Look forward to more thoughts.
OOC: Fimrold has the initiative!
From cover, Fimrold hears the calls of his companions responded to by a metallic clang and an unknown sound, surely the fray has begun.
Fimrold uses an action to draw his shield and then moves 5ft W, 15ft N, and 5ft diagonally NW, allowing space for frontliners to engage in a future lineup given the narrow space to work with. He winces at the fresh, dark claw marks marring Casta’s usually untouchable visage but will withhold his minor healing for the time being.
OOC: My vote goes to public results, I enjoy seeing the entirety of the narrative, inside thoughts included, and I view the fruits of one’s skill checks the same way. With the current exception of skill checks we are experiencing the game from a third person omniscient point of view, which, as previously mentioned, includes our character’s private thoughts and feelings. It would make the most sense to me, given that we know a character’s mind, that we are not barred from certain aspects of a character’s deduction. Already we are able to see a character think, “Wow Fimrold just did a clever and impactful turn! I think he’s awesome!” why should we only see half of, “Fimrold decides to look around the corner, he sees a not-so-sneaky goblin.” Additionally I support the idea of specification being a common tool, some rolls may have good reason to be kept secret, some rolls may have good reason to have your character call out a result; I believe we are capable of defining the two and avoiding metagaming.